If we can take anything from "The Croods" is its never too late for a huge comeback. The first half of "The Croods" may seem as neanderthal as the characters involved - slow and mightily crude - it may seem that the movie is destined for the doldrums. But boy oh boy does the second half take you for a spin. Like the movie's take on Neanderthals meeting modern man, everything skyrockets to greatness. The ending in particular is extremely heartfelt and memorable. Turns out in the end, "The Croods" is one captivating, emotional-filled and impressive film. One that both kids and adult will love.
Grug (Nicolas Cage), an over-protective father who, like all dads, is doing all he can to hold his family together at a time when cataclysmic changes on the Earth are happening. Together with his wife Ugga (Catherine Keener), daughter Eep(Emma Stone), son Thunk (Clark Duke), baby Sandy and ornery mother-in-law Gran (Cloris Leachman), Grug guides his family through this spectacular environment, full of amazing creatures, to find a new cave to call home. Along the way, they encounter Guy (Ryan Reynolds), an imaginative and resourceful newcomer who takes risks and wholeheartedly embraces the promise of tomorrow - a thing completely opposite from the belief of Grug of "never not be afraid".

As we mentioned earlier, "The Croods" had problems from the get-go. To be frank, the first few minutes was pretty slow and cumbersome. Nothing much happens as "The Croods" probably tried to show how boring surviving is from Grug's playbook. Things do ramp up quickly especially once the character of Guy arrives. Explosions upon explosions, tectonic plates shifting and astounding visuals bombard your senses. Visually speaking, "The Croods" was rather impressive. Colorful vistas and unique creatures all blend in an environment unique on its own and one that breathes much life into the context of its characters. Same as the plot, it does start slow but eventually heats up to one heck of an ending. An ending that uses all-too-familiar elements and yet packaged into one that feels fresh. Comedy-wise, the film is a complete success. We couldn't stop laughing with most of its jokes and one-liners. In the end, "The Croods" turns out to be beyond our expectations. A film that not only kids will enjoy but adults will do too. One that will make you laugh and cry at the same time.

Rating: 4 reels

Why you should watch it:
- extremely funny
- visually stunning bringing its unique world into life (even better in 3D)
- the plot while slow in the beginning ramps up to be one heck of an experience